The Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) is calling for urgent funding of the National Health and Climate Strategy in the 2024/25 Commonwealth Budget.

CAHA CEO, Philip Cornish, says the launch of Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy was a much needed step forward, but without funding, the Strategy cannot achieve its stated objectives.

“Right now people all over Australia are experiencing the health impacts of climate change.

“The 2023/24 summer has been one of the angriest yet. Western Australia has copped seemingly endless extreme heat, Australia’s deadliest weather type. We’ve seen cyclones in Queensland, a deadly storm in Gippsland and bushfires in several states.

“CAHA has worked on getting a Strategy for over a decade. We welcome the Albanese Government’s commitment to seeing this done. But without funding, the burden of disease associated with climate change will continue to rise.

"Today we are calling on the Commonwealth Government to prioritise funding the National Health and Climate Strategy in this year's budget. The health of current and future generations depends on it.”

• To get involved in CAHA's campaign to fund the National Health and Climate Strategy, email [email protected] 
• For media enquiries, contact Sally Spalding at [email protected] or 0401 184 986